An intellectual horror movie?

Rating: 10/10 (10 September 2003)

When I went to see this film, I expected a pretty standard horror movie. Although I thought the characters would be a bit more interesting than usual, I figured that in the end it would still be a long string of darkness, rain, ambient howls, and people crouching in crevices unaware that the evil is behind them rather than in front of them. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the filmmakers had something better in mind. This a superb film. It is both visually and auditorily stimulating. The dialogue is well written and well delivered, which makes it easy to empathized with the characters. The story is excellent, which is rare in a horror film. The camera perspective alternates between first and third person throughout the film to heighten tension, which is far more interesting than the standard practice of just turning up the eerie music for a cheap scare. The music in this film is not used to manipulate the audience. It is beautiful and haunting, and it gives fullness to the scenes where it is present. Plus, the ending was hopeful rather than hokey. All of these elements came together perfectly on this film, and it gives the film a more human quality. It isn't overblown at all. It relies on substance rather than special effects to get its point across. I was overwhelmed by how beautifully it was rendered.